From the village of Usa River near the city of Arusha in north-central Tanzania, Gertrude Protas Kitia uses the ancient art of Masai beadwork in both traditional and contemporary designs and techniques. Gertrude designs these bright summer bangles using traditional Masai patterns, but the twist to this bracelet is its recycled core. The women of Gertrude's craft cooperative collect rubber tubing from the local motorcycle mechanic, which in turn forms the base for elaborate beading. The bangles are both firm and flexible with porcelain beads wrapped on the recycled tubing. These colorful bracelets uplift your spirits while uplifting Gertrude and the women she supports!

Turquoise, Yellow, Black, Red, Green, or Multicolor

Recycled rubber tubes & porcelain

3" diameter (7.6 cm)

Handmade and fairly traded from Tanzania

Shop Green!

Created to help women worldwide gain economic security for themselves and their families by earning fair wages for their handiwork, Global Girlfriend sources women-made, fair-trade imported, eco-friendly products. By supporting long-term partnerships with the artisans, it fosters equal employment opportunities, healthy and safe working conditions, technical assistance, and development strategies to help reduce poverty, one community at a time. Become a "Global Girlfriend" and help build a brighter future for girlfriends around the globe!

Recent reviews:

April 15, 2013 -
I got the Masai bracelets and thought they were stunning.Also got the earrings and liked them too.Very dramatic!

April 1, 2013 -
Turquoise is beautiful! I literally received a complement from every woman who saw it at thehair salon on Saturday! I blessed a preteen with it (and the story behind it) so that she can receive the complements on Sunday!

March 31, 2013 -
Lovely bracelet for casual wear. I plan to order one or two more. A friend commented on my black one the first time I wore it and plans to buy some for friends and relatives.

February 3, 2013 -
have the black, very nice

January 27, 2013 -
VERY PLEASED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! ALEXANDRA MARCELLA MANOLESCO-AMI

Artisan: Gertrude Kitia

Handicrafts have been Gertrude Kitia's passion for as long as she can remember. This interest, coupled with a strong determination to help struggling women survive, led Gerturde to teach ancient Masai beading techniques to local women in Tanzania. Eventually, Gertrude formed a women's cooperative with the aim of helping women in her community who needed employment.

Despite the challenges of its remote location, limited transportation and non-existent government aid, the cooperative has managed to thrive because of Gertrude's tenacity. She not only provides women with trade skills and technique, she also promises fair wages and working conditions for the women, a situation which is fairly uncommon in Tanzania. The cooperative is also environmentally-focused and uses recycled and natural resources in all of their designs. Gertrude's cooperative not only provides a better living for women through sales of their designs, it has also successfully preserved traditional beading techniques and patterns of the Masai people.